Gamertell

Title: Schizoid
Price: 800 Microsoft Points (US$10.00)
System(s): Xbox Live
Release Date: July 9, 2008
Publisher (Developer): Microsoft (Torpex Games)
ESRB Rating: “Everyone” for mild fantasy violence.
Pros: Fun and addictive two-player game with good particle effects and smooth controls. Single-player two-ship “Uberschizoid” mode.
Cons: Single-player CPU teammate is occasionally idiotic.
Overall Score: Two thumbs up; 91/100; A-; * * * * out of five. 

Schizoid is a game of dualities. First, the name implies that it is meant for a single player (remember that “schizoid personality disorder” is antisocial behavior where the person tries to be alone) yet is most definitely a two-player game. Also, it may be a killer two-player game but it also has an amazingly fun single-player mode where you control both of the game’s avatars with one controller.

It’s hectic, it’s confusing, it’s frustrating and it’s friggin’ fun.

One Game, Two Ships

In this color-based action/puzzle game, the goal is to eliminate all of the red and blue objects in each level by colliding with them using a similarly colored ship. Hit the opposite - or another - colored object other than the wall and it’s one life lost. You don’t have any weapons, simply a colored ship that takes out objects of the same color and an alternately colored wingman.

Sure, it sounds pretty simple but objects are staggered so the ships need to alternate approaches or lure moving opponents away while the alternate-colored wingman takes out objects and enemies. It creates a high level of cooperation and strategy in order to successfully wipe out every object without losing a life.

Also, some of the objects are actually eggs that hatch into nasty mobile creature that chase you down, split into more nasties, turn into an unstoppable color or even spew a radial barrage of colored projectiles.

Each level is designed to be slightly more difficult than the last due to varied opponent positioning, different opponents and physical level design.

The game has a couple of single-player and two-player modes. As a loner, you can either play through levels with a computer-controlled wingman or, using one controller, pilot both avatars using one thumbstick for each ship. The co-op modes are online and offline, so you can always find someone to play with. No matter how you play, you have only 10 lives that you share between the two avatars.

Two Avatars, One Brain?

Playing with the CPU wingman is certainly enjoyable, but you do need to make sure it keeps close, otherwise it may get stupidly stuck along a non-sticking wall on the opposite end of the screen. The only way to escape - and I’m not guessing this is a programming glitch - is for one of you to lose a life. Since you share lives, that kinda sucks since it also means you cannot cleanly clear the stage. That stupid CPU is also the only negative element of this frantic game.

Everything else, however, is all shades of good.

The game has well-executed pseudo-organic objects with over-the-edge particle effects. Everything bursts into an amazing splatter of color.

The game demands a surprising amount of strategy. Just looking at a level you might think you know the best way to approach it, until opponents start flying at you and you now need to coordinate retreats as well as attacks. Cycling so ship can alternate taking out opponents is key in solving nearly all of the puzzles.

Coordinating with your teammate is key, so Microsoft wisely included headset communication with the game, although you’ll likely be paying too much attention to the screen and trying to keep pace with the opponents to utter more than a few quick commands.

If you thought your hemispheres where having issues with the CPU or another gamer, give the one-controller-two-ships “Uberschizoid” mode a try. You’d think that coordinating the two ships and alternating attacks with each by yourself would seem ideal but it is instead surprisingly difficult. Get through even a third as many levels as you do with the CPU or co-op levels and you’ll experience thrice the pride.

Red + Blue = Good

Schizoid certainly succeeds as a two-player co-operative game and offers plenty of puzzling fun for those who like to play alone. If you dig puzzles, action games or any type of online gaming, you should certainly let Xbox Live suck up a few of your Microsoft Points for this game.

Oh, and if you think you are equally skilled with both thumbs, definitely give the Ubserschizoid mode a try. You will be surprised.

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Check out the gallery: Schizoid for Xbox Live screen shots